Plant · GBIF taxon 2742428
Small Fortnight Lily
Dietes iridioidesAlso known as African Iris, Fortnight Lily, Morea Iris, Wood Iris
Fortnight lilies unfurl striking white flowers marked with bright yellow nectar guides and subtle purple central style branches, each bloom lasting only a single day. Flower bursts recur at roughly two-week intervals throughout the warmer months, giving rise to its common name. Deep green, sword-like foliage forms tough evergreen clumps that anchor coastal forest edges across southern Africa.
EvergreenFloweringPerennial
—observations
—countries
—peak records
Least ConcernConservation statusIUCN Red List categoriesLCNTVUENCREWEXLeast ConcernRed List categories, explained →
Diet & prey
- Sunlight
- Water
- Soil Nutrients
Predators
- Snails
- Slugs
- Aphids
ThreatsHabitat loss in native range and invasive spreading in mild foreign climates
HabitatsCoastal bush, forest margins, damp valleys, and cultivated gardens
Life span10–20 years
Size / weightNot available
Classification
- FamilyIridaceae
- SpeciesDietes iridioides
Range data is not available yet.
Interaction riskHigh
- Low
- Moderate
- High
- Very high
- Why interaction risk is high
- Contains iridaceous toxins; keep curious pets from chewing foliage and observe plants at a normal distance.
- Why it is dangerous
- Rhizomes and foliage contain iridaceous compounds that cause gastrointestinal irritation and nausea if swallowed.
- How to recognize a risky encounter
- Look for sword-shaped green leaves arranged in flat fans with delicate white flowers bearing yellow and violet centers.
- What to do
- Keep grazing pets away from landscaped beds and wear gardening gloves when dividing dense root clumps.
Responsible observation
- Viewing Time: Look for dramatic bursts of new flowers occurring every two weeks during spring and summer.
- Stem Maintenance: Leave spent flower stalks intact because successive flower buds emerge from the same stems.
- Pet Safety: Position landscape plants away from outdoor pet areas to avoid accidental chewing of rhizomes.
Close Relative O Tupinólogo / CC BY 4.0 · cc-by
Close Relative (c) Tony Rebelo, some rights reserved (CC BY-SA) · cc-by-sa
Family Member Myrabella / CC BY-SA 3.0 · cc-by-sa
Family Member (c) Jeremy Gilmore, some rights reserved (CC BY), uploaded by Jeremy Gilmore · cc-by
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